SEATTLE, WA – Last month, Seattle voters rejected a proposed ordinance that would have required dancers at the city’s topless bars to stay at least four feet away from their patrons at all times. The rejection of the proposed measure led some to speculate that Seattle’s clubs would see less scrutiny by local law enforcement, arguing that the vote was an expression of the relatively low priority Seattle voters placed policing the city’s adult nightclubs.Wednesday night, that notion was exploded by a raid conducted by Seattle police at Rick’s on Lake City Way, during which Seattle police arrested 14 people and entered a series of charges ranging from violations of city ordinances to prostitution, according to reports in The Seattle Times.
Seattle police spokesman told the Times that officers arrested and booked 13 dancers and one manager Wednesday night, adding that a fourteenth dancer had committed violations, but left the scene before she could be arrested.
According to the Times, the charges included 18 counts of “illegal touching” during lap dances, 16 counts of off-stage nudity, 18 counts of “accepting money for illegal acts” and four counts of prostitution. All the counts entered last night are misdemeanors.
“That is a lot of activity for one night,” said Whitcomb, according to the Times.
The manager was cited for reckless managerial conduct, a misdemeanor, for allegedly having knowledge of criminal activity and failing to take action. The charge is an unusual one, according to the club’s attorney.
“I’ve not seen that before,” the attorney for Rick’s, Gil Levy, told the Times, adding that he could not comment further on the allegations without seeing the police reports.
Whitcomb characterized the raid as a typical vice operation by undercover officers, but said the club’s owners are also being investigated by a joint operation of the FBI, the Seattle police and the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Levy told the Times, that he is unaware of any larger investigation into his clients, or their clubs.
